The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-22
WASHINGTON LETTER
tFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON. d. c., July 1S,

WASHINGTON. u. ", July IL, 1857.
The salutary effects of the lessons
taught by the recent exposure of the
rascalities of Bacon in the Patent Of
fee, and Harvey in the Treasury, are
perceptible in many ways. The heads
of Bureaus a,e more dilisent and vigi-
lent as we'll as exacting regarding the
methods of conducting the public busi-
ness, and the clerks appreciate the
state of affairs by increased activity
and thoroughness in performing their
allotted tasks. In all the Departments
there is an ill-concealed feeling of ap-
prehension, not 10 say suspense, as
to what day may bring forth, and
your correspondent feels safe in pre-
dieting that the end is not yet, that
others in high places are covering in
abject fear of an impartial investigat-
ion of their doings, realizing that the
result would be ruinous to them. /
have good reason to believe that a
general but quiet examination of the
accounts of all disbursing officers is be-
ing made by direction of no less an
authority than the President himself.
Postmaster General Villas was partly
engaged this week in the much needed
work of revising the postal regulations,
which have not been amended since
1877. The Postmaster General also
found time to reply, IN the negative to
the letter of the postal clerk, asking
permission to hold a convention to dis
cuss the needs of the service, aud ad-
vising them that the proper way to Sc
cure these aims and ends would be to
make such suggestions to the Depart.
ment as might occur to them in the
practical performance of their duties.
Up to the present this month, Gov
ernment receipts amount to about Sl1,-
900, 900, and the expenditures, inclus-
i've of $l2,000,000 in pensions, to $1S.-
SCI, ,l02, making an enormous excess of
disbursements over receipts. 1t is esti-
mated that the receipts for the balance
Of the month will be $l,000,000 day,
and that the expenditures will be fully
as large. The total amount of bonds
redeemed under the call which matur-
ed July 1st, is $1S,090,25O, leaving still
outstanding of the call 81, ,626, ,656, the
whole amount OF called bonds outstand-
ing is S5,300,450. At present the
Treasury finds itself unable to supply
the heavy demand for notes of small
denominations, but orders have been
issued to do so as SOON as practicable.
To prove that President Cleveland,
who has probably received more abuse
and adverse criticism from the soldiers
thar. ANY of his predecessors, is really
their best friend, having done better
by them than any other President, it is
only necessary to refer to the records
of the Pension office. During the first
two years of his term, President Cleve-
land has approved s63 private pension
bills. Gen. Grant, in eight years, only
approved 485, Hayes in four years, 1903,
and Garfield and Arthur but 1856 in the
same time. In addition to this, Presi-
dent Cleveland has approved three
general pension bills, March 10th, 1886,
increasing to twelve dollars the pen
sions of 79.7S7 widows, minors and de-
pendent relatives of Union soldiers,
August 4th, 1886, increasing the pen
sions of 10000 infrm and MANNED
Union soldiers of the civil war from
1924 to $50, from $50 to $36, and from
$50 to $3.50 to $45 per month. The
act of Jan. 9th, 1887, has al
ready placed upon the pension rolls
8,455 survivors of the Mexican war
and their widows, and during the pres
ent fiscal year that number will be
increased at least $4,000. The Pension
office records demonstrate beyond the
shade OF doubt, the assertion of cores
pondents to the contrary notwithstand-
ing, that 1871, $50 more certificates OF
pensions were issued during the first
two years of a Democratic administra-
tion than during the last two years of
Republican control. And during the
same time the sum distributed to pen
sioners by the Democrats exceeds by
$l6,6l7,026,99 tie amount distributed
by the Republicans for the same pur-
pose and time. 1t is also susceptible
of proof that IN the matter of new
names added to the pension list, the
Cleveland Administration is l5,408
names ahead of the last two years of
the Republican regime. Snch strong
arguments as these are sufficient to put
TO shame the Republican charge that
President Cleveland and the Demo
cracy are unfriendly to the soldiers of
the Union.
The dlsbursing officers of the Treas
ury were somewhat surprised the other
morning when duly authorized com
mittee of expert accountants called un-
tremendously to count their cash and
see if the books would balance. Similar
action will be taken with all disburs-
ing officers. Their accounts have new.
er been overhauled, and it will be a
great wonder if much crookedness in
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